If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

"Shen Sui'an is not your slave. She is the eldest grandson's wife of the Duke's Mansion and the granddaughter of Prime Minister Shen. She is a well-known lady in the capital. What reputation do you have?"

"Besides the princess status bestowed upon you by your father, don't you know how the outside world evaluates you?"

"Don't you think you've received enough criticism?"

"Guangning, your second brother is a humble person. He treats ministers well and is tolerant to his subordinates. That's why he has such a good reputation today."

Princess Guangning cried out, "Mother is afraid that I will drag down my second brother. No matter what I do, it is wrong. Even when I am bullied, I have to swallow my anger."

"Who is Shen Sui'an? Even if she is the granddaughter-in-law of the Duke's Mansion, so what? She married a bastard. She is inferior to me. I am a noble princess. Even if I want her life, I can kill her at any time."

"I am just a lowly thing like an ant, what have I done wrong!"

Concubine Yao's pupils shrank slightly. She never expected that her daughter could say such arrogant words.

If these words were heard by the officials in the court, wouldn't they be disheartened?

Guangning and the Second Prince are brothers from the same mother, so there is no guarantee that they will not doubt the Second Prince's character.

"You always say that you look down on illegitimate children, aren't you? Even if I am a noble consort, I am still just a concubine." Noble Consort Yao looked at Princess Guangning with disappointment.

"How can they be the same? I am a princess. I am more noble than Shen Suian, that bitch..." Princess Guangning shouted.

Snapped--

Concubine Yao finally couldn't bear it anymore and slapped Princess Guangning in the face.

Princess Guangning was stunned.

This was the first time her mother hit her.

It was also the first time she saw her mother so angry.

"Mother..." Princess Guangning burst into tears.

Concubine Yao's heart ached more than hers. "You are a princess, and you are naturally noble. The nobility your father gave you is not for you to treat other people's lives as ants."

"You are enjoying the glory given to you by the people of this country. It's okay if you can't defend your country. I don't ask you to be ambitious, but where is your most basic conscience as a human being?"

"Guangning, how could you become so bad?" Concubine Yao closed her eyes, feeling heartbroken and disappointed.

Princess Guangning clenched her hands tightly. She could see that Concubine Yao was really angry. She carefully crawled beside Concubine Yao and said, "Mother, please don't be angry."

Concubine Yao: "I'm just afraid that you will get into trouble in the future, and it will end up hurting yourself."

"I am a princess, who dares to hurt me?" Princess Guangning said in a low voice.

"Do you know why I stopped you from going to see the emperor?" asked Concubine Yao.

Princess Guangning shook her head slightly.

"Do you think that Lu Yuan was able to become the commander-in-chief of the Pacification Division because of your father's promotion? If he had no ability, your father would not have valued him." Concubine Yao said.

"Lu Yuan holds the secrets of the court officials. Only he and your father know these secrets. Your father's respect and trust in Lu Yuan will not change just because of a few words from you."

"Guangning, your father loves you, but he is the emperor first, and then your father."

"He won't allow you to interfere in the disposal of ministers in the court."

"I tried my best to let Lu Yuan interact with your second brother. If you caused any delay, I would be very angry." Concubine Yao said softly.

Princess Guangning shuddered unconsciously, "Mother, I understand."

Concubine Yao gently stroked her red and swollen cheeks and took out the snow lotus cream to apply it on her.

"Is your husband good to you?" Concubine Yao asked softly.

Princess Guangning rubbed her face on Concubine Yao's hand, "Okay, Lu Heng is very considerate to me."

He didn't dare to treat her badly because she was a princess.

Shen Sui'an is no match for her, and that so-called bartender is even less so.

"Don't expect a man to treat you well. You should have your own pursuits," said Concubine Yao.

As a mother, she certainly hopes that Lu Heng can treat Guangning wholeheartedly.

But she knew the nature of men very well. Lu Heng was born in a Duke's mansion and had been pampered since childhood. Now he was nice to Guangning, but what about in the future?

"Don't worry, mother. I know." said Princess Guangning.

"I'm not like Shen Suian, who is not presentable enough. He kept pestering a bartender and ended up losing a good marriage opportunity." Princess Guangning sneered.

If Lu Heng dared to see that bartender again, she would make her disappear from this world.

Imperial Concubine Yao watched as the redness and swelling on Guangning's face mostly disappeared. "Go back. If you don't like seeing Shen Sui'an, don't return to the Duke's Mansion."

"No, if I don't go to the Duke's Mansion, Shen Suian will become even more arrogant." Princess Guangning frowned.

"Didn't you think she was not annoying last time? Why do you hate her so much now?" asked Concubine Yao.

Princess Guangning has never liked Shen Suian, thinking that she is always pretending to be obedient to please her elders. Her mother and the Queen Mother have praised Shen Suian many times before.

"Mother, I suspect she still has feelings for Lu Heng." Princess Guangning snorted.

Imperial Concubine Yao frowned: "Lu Yuan is no worse than Lu Heng. It is a good match for her to marry Lu Yuan."

Princess Guangning said proudly: "As far as family background is concerned, Lu Yuan cannot compare to Lu Heng."

"Shen Sui'an must be regretting it very much. She played hard to get and made such a scene. She definitely didn't expect that our father would grant the marriage. She must be regretting it to death." Princess Guangning raised the corners of her mouth.

Concubine Yao looked at her helplessly.

……

……

Qu Qingli finally coaxed Mrs. Qu to agree to let her and her sisters go out and play for a day.

She asked someone to invite Shen Suian, but Shen Suian was very busy, so she had to find another close friend to go to the houseboat together.

"I know you're feeling pent up, so I've chartered a pleasure boat a long time ago. Today the weather is good, so we'll have dinner on the boat and cruise on the river. When it gets dark, the riverside will be covered with colorful lights, which will be a beautiful sight." Luo Zhen'er, the second daughter of Minister Luo, said with a smile.

Qu Qingli hooked her hand and said, "Call a few more musicians to play for us along the way."

"I know, I know. Are you still worried about my arrangements?" Luo Zhen'er glared at her.

There were five or six girls in the group. They got off the carriage and headed straight for the pleasure boat.

They chattered and their laughter spread like bells.

When they arrived at the pleasure boat they had booked, maids were already waiting for them.

Qu Qingli suddenly saw a familiar figure. She stopped and squinted her eyes slightly at the small houseboat docked under a big tree on the shore.

"Is that also a pleasure boat for cruising on the river?" Qu Qingli asked the maid.

"Sir, that pleasure boat is selling wine, not cruising the river," the maid replied.

Luo Zhen'er laughed and said, "Why, you still want to get drunk, your old lady will spank you."

"I'm just asking, I won't drink it." Qu Qingli snorted.

She was not mistaken, the figure that flashed by just now was Song Xiuzhi, the bartender.

Last time, Guangning proudly said that he had driven Song Xiuzhi out of Shangjing.

No, she wants to tell Shen Suian!

Qu Qingli's eyes moved, but she suppressed the thought.

Suisui is too soft-hearted and will definitely let the wine seller go.

She wants to tell Guangning!

Let Guangning deal with Lu Heng and Song Xiuzhi, the couple.